Naturally occurring lethal parvovirus infection of juvenile and young-adult rats

A lethal disease characterized by hemorrhage and necrosis of the brain, testes, and epididymides developed in young adult rats housed in specific pathogen free quarters. Morphological, virological, and serological investigations of the outbreak indicated that the probable causative agent was rat virus (Kilham), a common parvovirus of rats that usually induces persistent, asymptomatic infection in adult rats.     

Experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa ulcerative keratitis model in the dog

Primary Pseudomonas aeruginosa ulcerative keratitis and accompanying secondary ocular disease were induced bilaterally in 12 of 12 dogs subjected to corneal trephination and intrastromal inoculation. Successful experimental infection was based on recovery of viable Pseudomonas organisms from the lesions, as well as gross and biomicroscopic appearance of the corneas.     

Inheritance of congenital cataracts and microphthalmia in the Miniature Schnauzer

Congenital cataracts and microphthalmia in the Miniature Schnauzer were inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Eighteen matings of affected X affected Miniature Schnauzers resulted in 87 offspring with congenital cataracts and microphthalmia (49 males/38 females). Two matings of congenital cataractous and microphthalmic Miniature Schnauzers (2 females) X a normal Miniature Schnauzer (1 male) yielded 11 clinically normal Miniature Schnauzers (7 males/4 females). Eighteen matings of congenital cataractous and microphthalmic Miniature Schnauzers (6 males) X carrier Miniature Schnauzers (9 females) produced 81 offspring; 39 exhibited congenital cataracts and microphthalmia (20 males/19 females) and 42 had clinically normal eyes (17 males/25 females).     

Physiologic responses of feral horses to succinylcholine chloride immobilization

Five captive feral horses were immobilized at 72 hour intervals for 30 days by intramuscular administration of succinylcholine chloride (SCh) using a capture gun and dart system. The serum enzyme activities of creatine phosphokinase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase and serum cortisol concentrations were monitored to assess the response to chemical immobilization in feral horses over time.Reference values for these parameters in feral horses were found to be in close agreement with those of normal, rested horses not in training. The results suggest that single, or infrequently repeated, use of succinylcholine-chloride by intramuscular administration to captive feral horses, or to otherwise unapproachable horses, could be efficiently and practically employed in field situations without major physiologic alterations and with minimal stress occurring in these horses.     

A novel herpesvirus associated with chronic superficial keratitis and proliferative conjunctivitis in a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

An adult great‐horned owl (Bubo virginianus; GHOW) presented with a history of recurrent corneal ulceration of the right eye (OD). Findings included ulcerative superficial keratitis, proliferative conjunctivitis, and iris pigmentary changes. The ulcer was initially nonresponsive to medical therapy, but showed rapid and appropriate healing following diamond burr debridement. Proliferative conjunctivitis markedly improved following topical antiviral therapy with cidofovir 1%, interferon alpha 2B ophthalmic solutions, and oral l ‐lysine. Histopathologic evaluation of a conjunctival biopsy revealed epithelial features suspicious for viral cytopathic changes and intranuclear structures suspicious for viral inclusions, suggestive of a possible viral‐induced papillomatous conjunctivitis. A novel alphaherpesvirus, referred to as Strigid Herpesvirus 1 (StrHV1), was identified using PCR and gene sequencing. This case represents a new clinical manifestation of a previously unreported herpesvirus in the GHOW. Identification of the herpes virus was critical to administration of appropriate therapy and resolution of the conjunctivitis, and corneal epithelial debridement promoted resolution of the chronic corneal epithelial defect.     

Multivariate relationships between epidemiologic risk factors and zoonotic infections among military personnel in the country of Georgia: A non‐linear canonical correlation analysis

Zoonotic diseases are endemic in the country of Georgia. Using the non‐linear canonical correlation (NCC) method, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between thirteen epidemiological risk factors and seropositivity to five zoonotic infections (anthrax, Q fever, tularemia, leptospirosis, and Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF]) among Georgian military recruits during 2014–2016. According to this multivariate statistical technique, which is suitable for the analysis of two or more sets of qualitative variables simultaneously, two canonical variables were identified. These variables accounted for 68% of the variation between the two sets of categorical variables (“risk factors” and “zoonotic infections”). For the first canonical variable, there was a relationship among CCHF (canonical loading, which is interpreted in the same way as the Pearson's correlation coefficient, [cl] = 0.715), tick bites (cl = 0.418) and slaughter of animals (cl = 0.351). As for the second canonical variable, Q fever (cl = ?0.604) and leptospirosis (cl = ?0.486) were related to rodents inside and outside home (cl = ?0.346) and sweeping in or around home (cl = ?0.317). The NCC method allows researchers to obtain additional insights into the complex relationship between epidemiological risk factors and multiple zoonotic infections.     

Chronic metabolic acid load induced by changes in dietary electrolyte balance increased chloride retention but did not compromise bone in growing swine

The effects of chronic dietary acid loads on shifts in bone mineral reserves and physiological concentrations of cations and anions in extracellular fluids were assessed in growing swine. Four trials were conducted with a total of 38 (8.16 +/- 0.30 kg, mean +/- SEM) Large White x Landrace x Duroc pigs randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. Semipurified diets, fed for 13 to 17 d, provided an analyzed dietary electrolyte balance (dEB, meq/kg diet = Na+ + K+ - Cl-) of -35, 112, and 212 for the acidogenic, control, and alkalinogenic diets, respectively. Growth performance, arterial blood gas, serum chemistry, urine pH, mineral balance, bone mineral content gain, bone-breaking strength, bone ash, and percentage of bone ash were determined. Dietary treatments created a range of metabolic acid loads without affecting (P > 0.10) growth or feed intake. Urine pH was 5.71, 6.02, and 7.65 +/- 0.48 (mean +/- SEM) and arterial blood pH was 7.478, 7.485, and 7.526 +/- 0.006 for pigs fed acidogenic, control, and alkalinogenic treatments, respectively. A lower dEB resulted in an increased (P < 0.001) apparent Cl- retention (106.6, 55.4, and 41.2 +/- 6.3 meq/d), of which only 1.6% was accounted for by expansion of the extracellular fluid Cl- pool as calculated from serum Cl- (105.5, 103.4, 101.6 +/- 0.94 meq/L (mean +/- SEM) for pigs fed acidogenic, control, and alkalinogenic treatments, respectively. A lower dEB did not decrease (P > 0.10) bone mineral content gain, bone-breaking strength, bone ash, percentage of bone ash, or calcium and phosphate balance. In conclusion, bone mineral (phosphate) was not depleted to buffer the dietary acid load in growing pigs over a 3-wk period.